News

On 20 April 2021, the EuroHPC world-class supercomputer Vega is officially inaugurated with a high-level ceremony in Maribor, Slovenia. Vega is the first EU supercomputer to be delivered, jointly financed with EU funds.

The press conference on the current COVID-19 situation was attended by the state secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (MDDSZ), Cveto Uršič, and the director of the Trbovlje General Hospital, Dr Romana Martinčič.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project “Business Zone south of the railway Phase II”. The project worth over EUR 660,000 will be implemented by the Municipality of Žalec in the framework of the Agreement on the Development of the Savinjska region and will receive EUR 414,000 of European Regional Development Fund support.

Today in Ljubljana, Prime Minister Janez Janša met with Msgr Stanislav Zore, Archbishop of Ljubljana, Metropolitan and President of the Slovenian Bishops’ Conference, and other members of the Slovenian Bishops’ Conference.

Prior to the upcoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency, State Secretary Gašper Dovžan held videoconference consultations with Miguel Berger, State Secretary at the German Federal Foreign Office, who is responsible for political sectors and European policy, relations with the United States, the Russian Federation, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Today Prime Minister Janez Janša attended the ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of adopting the Military Service Act, where he was also the keynote speaker.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar today attended a video conference meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. The ministers focused their discussion on the situation in Ethiopia and Ukraine and held an informal talk with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

A joint letter of Slovenian Foreign Minister Anže Logar and his Portuguese counterpart Augusto Santos Silva has been published in today’s edition of the Delo newspaper, in which they discuss the objectives of their countries’ EU Council Presidencies. The entire letter is available below.

Foreign Minister Anže Logar addressed the participants at the beginning of the third Latin American and Caribbean Days international conference organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the auspices of the Bled Strategic Forum.

Today, State Secretary Stanislav Raščan participated in the virtual XII EU-LAC Reflection Forum organised by the European Union - Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Foundation in cooperation with the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of the LAC Days 2021 international conference.

A press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was held by the head of the advisory group at the Ministry of Health Mateja Logar.

In response to some inappropriate reactions related to the presentation of credentials by the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Romania, Lea Stančič, in Moldova, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to make it known that the highest diplomatic representatives of the State may, in accordance with international diplomatic practice and generally accepted and established principles and customs of diplomacy, wear national costume or traditional clothing on special occasions, such as the ceremony of presenting credentials to the President of the receiving State or sovereign of the country. In some countries, this practice is even recommended.

On behalf of the Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF), the Defence Attaché of the Republic of Slovenia in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colonel Žarko Henigman, handed over protective equipment for coronavirus disease to the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project Cycling connection between Kamnik and Godič. The EUR 1 million cycle project, which will be implemented under the Agreement on the Development of the Osrednjeslovenska region, will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 733,000.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project Cycling connection between Brežice and Dobova. The nearly EUR 2.9 million cycle project, which will be implemented under the Agreement on the Development of the Posavje region, will be supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 1.8 million.

Today, Minister Andrej Šircelj attended an informal video conference of the economic and finance ministers (ECOFIN Council). As part of the discussions on the economic recovery in the European Union, Minister Šircelj presented the concept of the Slovenian recovery and resilience plan.

Today, as part of preparations for Slovenia’s Presidency, Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs had a meeting with Italy’s Minister of the Interior Luciana Lamorgese through video conferencing. They agreed the levels of cooperation between their countries in the area of home affairs have always been good. Their discussion focused on Slovenia’s preparations for assuming the Council Presidency in the second semester of 2021 and on some topical issues such as irregular migration.

Today’s afternoon press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by Minister of the Interior Aleš Hojs.

Vesna Kerstin Petrič, Director-General of Public Health Directorate at the Ministry of Health, attended today’s press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19.

After reviewing the documentation, the Government Communication Office (UKOM) received only one new document from the Slovenian Press Agency (STA), although it was understood from the letter which Bojan Veselinović, Director of the STA, sent on Monday that the entire documentation requested would be delivered.

The epidemic of the novel coronavirus has changed our lives and has spared no one. It has exposed our vulnerability and weakness. It took away our health and, unfortunately, many lives as well. It confronted us with questions from which we shied away for too long.

The 8th Forest Europe Ministerial Conference, which was held over two days by videoconference, concluded today. State Secretary Anton Harej attended the conference yesterday and Minister Dr Jože Podgoršek attended the conference today. The conference was devoted to the adaptation of forests to climate change and sustainable forest management. The participants adopted a declaration on "The Future we want; The Forests we need" and a resolution on "Adapting pan-European Forests to Climate Change".

State Secretary Gašper Dovžan addressed the participants of the 17th Conference of Speakers of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative on behalf of Foreign Minister Anže Logar. The online conference, organised within the framework of Slovenia's AII Chairmanship, was hosted by the President of the National Assembly of Slovenia Igor Zorčič.

Press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by Simon Zajc, State Secretary at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Tjaša Žohar Čretnik, Director of the National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food, Deana Potza from the Health Inspectorate, and Tomaž Pečjak, Deputy Director General of the Police.

At today’s session, the Government adopted the amendments to the Decree on the implementation of screening programmes for the early detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. The Government also concluded that an exception is permitted in eight orange statistical regions to implement hospitality activities of preparing food and beverages and serving on terraces and summer gardens between 07:00 and 19:00. The Government also adopted the Ordinance on determining the conditions for entry into the Republic of Slovenia for the purpose of containment and control of the infectious disease COVID-19.

Director-General for EU Affairs Barbara Sušnik attended a videoconference of the EU Council Presidency Trio of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia.

State Secretary Stanislav Raščan, together with Portugal’s Minister of Environment and Energy Transition João Pedro Matos Fernandes and European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius, represented the European side at the EU-Brazil High-level Dialogue on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development. The Brazilian side was, amongst others, represented by Foreign Minister Carlos Alberto França and Minister of Environment Ricardo Salles, who will head the Brazilian delegation at the COP26 climate summit.

Marta Grgič Vitek, National Coordinator of the Vaccination Programme at the National Institute of Public Health, Nuška Čakš Jager, Deputy Head of the Centre for Communicable Diseases at the National Institute of Public Health, Leon Cizelj of the Jožef Stefan Institute, and Heinz Nečemer, Headteacher of Bad Eisenkappel School Centre in Austrian Carinthia, attended the regular press conference on the current COVID-19 situation.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Jernej Vrtovec, attended an informal meeting of EU transport ministers via video conference, at which a wide-ranging discussion on EU railway policies took place.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar today attended the international Raisina Dialogue conference. Organised by the Observer Research Foundation and the Indian External Affairs Ministry, it is one of the leading global platforms aimed at in‑depth geopolitical and geoeconomic discussions.

Today’s press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by Franc Vindišar, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Marko Pokorn, the Medical Director of Ljubljana Paediatric Clinic, Ada Hočevar Grom of the National Institute of Public Health and Nina Krohne, psychologist from the Slovenian Psychologists’ Association.

At the invitation of the Portuguese Presidency, State Secretary Dr Božo Predalič and Director of Government Office for the Support and Integration of Migrants Katarina Štrukelj joined an informal ministerial video conference on integration and the impact of the pandemic on the access of migrants to the labour market.

Today’s press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by Mateja Logar, the Head of the Advisory Group of the Ministry of Health, and Tomaž Vovko, specialist in infectiology and intensive care medicine.

Today’s press conference was attended by Janez Poklukar, the Minister of Health, Mateja Logar, the Head of the Advisory Group of the Ministry of Health, and Milan Krek, the Director of the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ). Maja Bratuša first presented the epidemiological situation in the country.

Today, Prime Minister Janez Janša and Janez Poklukar, the Minister of Health, visited the Bia Separations company in Ajdovščina. BIA Separations - Sartorius is a leading developer of monolith technology and the exclusive producer of chromatographic columns for the production, purification, and analysis of large biomolecules.

Today’s press conference on the current situation regarding COVID-19 was attended by Simona Kustec, Minister of Education, Science and Sport, and Borut Štrukelj from the Faculty of Pharmacy in Ljubljana.

The Slovenian Government adopted the Decree on Packaging and Packaging Waste Handling, which is an implementing regulation based on the amendment to the Environmental Protection Act. The objective of this Decree is to ensure a high level of environment protection, the prevention and reduction of any impact of packaging and packaging waste on the environment, and to ensure the operations of the internal market, prevent obstacles to trade and distortion and restriction of competition.

The new issue of the News from Nuclear Slovenia is published.

Prime Minister Janez Janša spoke today at the virtual conference entitled "Changing Paradigms in a Pandemic World: How to regain trust? Health, Happiness & Ethics".

Minister of Health Janez Poklukar held an address for healthcare workers and co-workers and the general public on the occasion of World Health Day, celebrated on 7 April. The current epidemiological data was presented by Government spokesperson Maja Bratuša.

On the occasion of this year’s World Health Day, the World Health Organization is putting health inequities at the forefront under the slogan "Let’s build a fairer, healthier world for everyone". The emphasis is on achieving the highest level of health, which is a fundamental right of every human being without regard to race, religion, political belief, or economic or social condition.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar held talks via videoconference with the Bavarian State Minister for European and International Affairs Melanie Huml. Their discussion focused on the activities aimed at strengthening political, economic, and regional cooperation with Bavaria in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming Slovenian EU Council Presidency.

The speakers at the press conference on the current COVID-19 situation were State Secretary Jelko Kacin, National Logistics Coordinator for the Mass Vaccination Campaign against COVID-19, and Tatjana Lejko Zupanc, Head of the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Fever Conditions at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana.

Dear citizens of Slovenia, dear fellow Slovenians at home and abroad, the hope that Easter brings touches our open hearts time and again. Every time as if for the first time and always the way that we need it most at that precise moment. We draw strength from Easter hope. We rely on it in times of trial, while being conscious of the fact that there would be no Easter without suffering, trial and renunciation.

As part of the group of six like-minded countries, Slovenia has always worked towards eliminating the growing differences in the vaccination rate among EU Member States. The overall goal was to eliminate these differences to the greatest extent possible with the supply of 10 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to achieve a 70% vaccination rate of the adult population in all Member States by early summer. Member States had different interests and views regarding the distribution of these 10 million vaccine doses.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a funding decision for the Call for proposals for ESF-supported operations promoting social inclusion of vulnerable groups through cultural and creative industries in the period 2021-2023. The call for proposals will make a total of EUR 1.3 million available, of which over EUR 1 million will come from the European Social Fund.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has approved funding for the project The Forge – Kranj Business Incubator. The nearly EUR 2.5 million project will be implemented by Urban Municipality Kranj and supported by the EU, with the contribution from the European Regional Development Fund standing at EUR 1.5 million.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar today held a telephone conversation with Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita. The ministers expressed a shared wish to strengthen bilateral relations and went on to exchange views on current regional issues.

Today's press conference on the current COVID-19 situation was attended by Tjaša Žohar Čretnik, the Director of the National Laboratory for Health, the Environment and Food, and Leon Cizelj from the Jožef Stefan Institute.

Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy has issued a funding decision for the Call for proposals to support tourism and recreation infrastructure in mountain areas. The call for proposals makes a total of EUR 5 million available, of which EUR 4.5 million will come from the European Regional Development Fund.